A seamless vinyl floor in a room can create a stunning backdrop for furnishings, whether installed a kitchen, bathroom or any living space. And the choices of colors, patterns and designs has never been greater, many mimicking materials like stone, quartz and planks of embossed wood in small to large formats. The new designs are a complete departure from your parent’s vinyl choices while ensuring a durable, low-maintenance, waterproof surface for years to come.
Vinyl flooring is available at flooring, design and home centers and online, where it is sold by the square foot. A new vinyl floor requires a level subfloor and underlayment. If there are multiple layers of flooring, they have to be removed, which is good grunt work for a budding DIYer. A flooring contractor will charge $628 to remove an existing floor, install a subfloor or underlayment and install new flooring in a 10-by-12-foot room, which includes labor and material. You can buy the material and install it yourself for $365, assuming you have carpentry experience and tools, and pocket a 42% saving.
Consider hiring an installer if the room is odd-shaped, with built-in cabinets or fixtures, or has tricky corners that require precision cuts, because there’s no saving if you make a mistake cutting the material and have to replace it. If installing a floor is first-time job, you might want to choose 12-inch square vinyl tiles, which are easier to handle than a large vinyl sheet.
To find more DIY and contractor project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com.
Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved
$628 — $365 — 6.5 — 14.0 — $263 — 42%
